What’s happening in Markey Cup

Danske Bank Markey Cup
ST CIARAN’S Ballygawley look to be the team to beat as the Danske Bank Markey Cup enters the knock-out stages next week following the final group games this week.
The south Tyrone school was a convincing winner of all their group games to go straight into the quarter-finals in mid-January.
With the school also reaching the Danske Bank Arthurs Cup final this Wednesday (11th January) where they play St Colm’s Draperstown, there is likely to be a few new faces coming into the starting team – possibly the Galbally trio of Barry and Eoghan Carberry and Conal Quinn.
Errigal Ciaran’s Ruairí Canavan who has been the scoring sensation of the under-age competition is another who could easily slot into the senior team.
Ballygawley will play the winner from the play-off between St Patrick’s Keady and Coláiste Cholchille Ballyshannon.
Also going well in the Markey Cup group games are Virginia College Cavan, a strong physical side who topped their group with a convincing win over unbeaten St Patrick’s Keady this week. Virginia await a winner from this week’s game between St Malachy’s Belfast and Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola Falcarragh.
Virginia however drew with Dean Maguirc Carrickmore and a second Tyrone school could well be the dark horses in next week’s play-offs when they face Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair.
The winner of that play-off will be up against Rathmore who comfortably won their group with three straight victories.
Rosses CS Dungloe topped their group but it is difficult to gauge the strength of the strength of the Donegal qualification group.
Two games will have to be played before Christmas to work out opponents for Dungloe in January. Firstly there is an eliminator between Holy Cross Strabane and Gleann na Ró and then the winner will play St Louis Kilkeel

Ulster Schools Danske Bank Markey Cup:
Eliminator : Gleann na Ró v Holy Cross Strabane

Playoffs (To be played between now and Christmas)
1 (A2) St. Louis Kilkeel v (D3) Winners of Gleann na Ro/Holy Cross Strabane
2 (B2) Gaoth Dobhair v (C3) Dean Maguirc Carrickmore
3 (C2) St Patrick’s Keady v (B3) CC Ballyshannon
4 (D2) PCC Falcarragh Vs (A3) St Malachy’s Belfast

Quarter Finals (Commence week beginning Monday 13th January 2020)
W (A1) Rathmore grammar v (2)
X (B1) Rosses CS Dungloe v (1)
Y (C1) Virginia College v (4)
Z (D1) St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley v (3)

Semi Finals (Week beginning Monday, 27th January 2020)
(W) v (Y)
(X) v (Z)